Ladbrokes Handicap Chase

0-13 under rules but ran some good races over fences at the beginning of the year; many of those good efforts came on heavy but his fourth over hurdles at Clonmel on his penultimate start was on good ground; dropped 4lb for 30L defeat last time at Kilbeggan (2m4f, good); needs more.

Won a handicap chase at Downpatrick last month (2m7f, good); followed that up with another comfortable win eight days later from a mark of 102 at Wexford (3m1f, good); had a number of these in behind him on that occasion; has an 8lb rise to contend with but he is clearly thriving on good ground.

1-13 over fences; 3lb higher than last win which came at this track one year ago; a very close second in a handicap at Down Royal in January (3m, good-yielding); pulled up on two of his last three runs; he is capable if he is on a going day.

Hasn't been able to take advantage of a 15lb lower chase mark; has been running okay in chase starts without really looking like winning them; not a natural jumper of fences and others make more appeal.

Dropped 1lb for 26L thrashing from Riggs on his return from a break last time; 2-31 over fences; runs from a 9lb lower chase mark and but the veteran of the field hasn't shown as if he is capable of exploiting it based on his past couple of runs.